External Seagate hard drive not recognised

[SMarg]

I will keep this as brief as possible in the hope someone can help having read previous posts and tried those options:

XP Professional SP3
Dell Optiplex GX260
X86-Based PC
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Total Physical Memory: 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory: 927.65
Total Virtual Memory: 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory: 1.96 GB
Page File Space: 3.85 GB
Hard drive used space: 21.2 GB
Free Space: 53.2 GB
Internet Explorer 8
External Hard drive: Seagate Freeagent 250 GB

I have 2 problems. Started with computer being very slow to shut down and open up – virus suspect. Ran various malware, spyware and virus checks nothing showed. Still continuing with checks to get computer back to running normally and have also lost connection to network sharing with my other 2 computers.

Since then hard drive has not been recognised on my computer. (have connected USB to back of computer)
It can be seen in Device Manager as USB Mass Storage Device
It is also recognised in Disk Manager in both upper and lower sections and status healthy
USB drivers all uninstalled – computer restarted – came up recognised as Seagate Freeagent device. In Explorer it shows as E drive but unable to access. Clicking on it just makes it hang without opening..
Thought about changing hard drive letter from E to F (not in use) but it said could cause problems so didn’t carry on with that just in case as there is data I do want to recover from the drive

Any suggestions appreciated

[ApPy10]

I too had a similar kind of problem and what I did to resolve it was, I just went into Device Manager, unpluggedand replugged the hard drive again and again and then finally I found that although it wasn't listed under Disk Drives or Removable Storage, it was listed under USB controllers. It had a little x on the icon. Upon right clicking it I found that it had somehow become disabled on my computer, so I just renabled it and guess what it worked, hope that it solves your issue as well.

[SMarg]

Thanks for your prompt reply. I do know that the hard drive is under USB as I also unplugged it to check but I will try that in the morning and report back. It sounds a bit too easy but you never know!

Tried unplugging several times but hasn't worked. Now trying to change drive letter to see if it will be recognised.